14 DAY TRIAL // One of the promises that Microsoft made when it launched Windows 8 (and confirmed once again with the launch of Windows 8.1) was that its modern operating system has what it takes to lend a hand to the declining PC market and boost new computer sales.
To do that, Microsoft put the emphasis on touch capabilities, saying that all vendors that embrace such technology have a great opportunity to boost sales.
That didn’t happen until now and, as far as NPD Group’s DisplaySearch is concerned, it is not going to happen in the near future either.
In the first half of 2013, DisplaySearch says, shipments of notebooks equipped with touch screens reached 6.2 million units, accounting for only 7 percent of all notebook sales.
And unfortunately for Microsoft and other companies that are now betting big on touch screens, that’s not going to happen anytime soon.
This year, shipments of such devices are expected to reach 19.8 million units, which represent an 11 percent share of the notebook market. Things will slightly improve by 2017, when touch penetration in the notebook industry is expected to reach 40 percent.
“Touch penetration in notebooks was modest in the first half of the year, and we expect a slight increase to 10% in the second half. Premium pricing and a lack of compelling uses for touch screens on notebooks continue to hinder adoption,” said Richard Shim, senior analyst at NPD DisplaySearch.
“As touch interfaces become increasingly common across all mobile devices, however, it is just a matter of time before the technology also becomes more prevalent in notebooks.”
Microsoft focus on touch capabilities has been one of the main reasons why Windows 8 has failed to impress, with experts and analysts across the world explaining that all these features do not make much sense on desktop computers.
On the other hand, Redmond continues investments in touch-capable devices and technologies and says that eventually, everybody will discover the benefit of such an operating system.